Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott look like they are ready to keep Cross Talk’s undefeated first-up record in tact. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have former New Zealand gelding Cross Talk ready to score first-up at Canterbury on Wednesday. Picture: AAP Image

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Canterbury.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

CANTERBURY

BEST BET

Race 5, No.8: CROSS TALK

He’s had three barrier trials to get ready for this and the latest one was an eight length romp. He won fresh twice from as many attempts.

NEXT BEST

Race 2, No.1: LADY HARLEM

The blinkers go on now to sharpen her up after getting out of her ground in a Stakes race fresh. The extra distance and drop in class also helps her chances.

VALUE BET

Race 7, No.4: PENTACOST

This isn’t a deep race and I liked the way he went through the line over a mile last time and he’s bred to handle wet ground.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 2, 3, 4, 5

Race 5: 3, 7, 8

Race 6: 3, 6, 7, 10

Race 7: 1, 2, 4, 7

Brenton Avdulla will again ride Feedom Square at Canterbury on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Brenton Avdulla only has two rides but Freedom Square and Oryx look like very good hopes for him to secure a winning double.

TRAINER TO WATCH

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott look to have very good hopes in all three runners placed here with Cross Talk looking the leading pick while Gold Revolver and Journalism well placed also.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR CANTERBURY

RACE 1

Gold Revolver has been forward and back in his two barrier trials so it will be interesting to see what Tim Clark does from barrier six here. It looks like Flying Birds has the early speed to take advantage of barrier two, lead them up and look the winner for a while. Knippenberg showed enough in his latest barrier trial and has a very strong stable behind him along with an ideal barrier. Disoney is one of the few horses with race experience which will naturally help and he might be the one that runs well above his odds because none of the debutants trialled outstanding.

Bet: Gold Revolver to win

RACE 2

Veandchance probably would’ve won on debut at this track if she didn’t get held up at a crucial point in the straight which cost her all her momentum. Nash Rawiller is now on and she will get an easy run in transit. If she gets clear air, she can show her true best. Pierossa was an eye-catcher in that race too and would’ve won in another stride. Sibylla was not far behind them as well that day and has trialled up since so she could turn the tables easily but has drawn wide. Lady Harlem is much better suited to 1250m here after finding the 1100m too sharp first-up in Stakes company. She was surging through the line and the blinkers now go on which should help a lot.

Bet: Lady Harlem to win

Tommy Berry (pictured) rides Lady Harlem for trainer John O’Shea. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 3

Tinnie Winnie is running over 1550m which should suit the daughter of So You Think who has had a barrier trial over 1030m to prepare for this. She’s ready to race in town now after putting together a good record at the provincials. Crazy Train has placed at all three runs this time in and the fact she’s at Canterbury for the first time should be seen as a positive. Desi Girl won over 1400m at Kembla Grange on a Heavy 10 last start but looked like she would be even better over 1550m now. Tawfiq Lass loves wet ground and looks well placed here.

Bet: Tinnie Winnie to win

RACE 4

Freedom Square was a very good winner in Highway grade first-up at Gosford with the blinkers on and did it with a bit in hand. This bodes well for him coming to city racing. Getting out to 1500m only suits. Wild Chap is thriving on wet ground and smashed them here last start to keep his perfect record at the track intact. He has to rise 2.5kg in weight to win again. Kirkeby looks well placed here fresh off a nice barrier trial win. He wants more ground but can run well fresh and likes wet tracks. Holstein’s form is all over the place but at his best he’s more than capable in this grade.

Bet: Kirkeby to win

RACE 5

Cross Talk has had three barrier trials leading up to his first-up run so he’s ready to go and that was evident in an eight-length barrier trial win last week. He’ll look to lead them into the straight and will handle the heavy ground. Conceited won well here last time but will only run if the track isn’t bottomless. Brimstone is on his Australian debut after running in the top two eight times from 12. James McDonald takes the ride on him here. He trialled up well enough. Game Theory put two together before running into the in-form Coal Crusher last start. The tongue tie is on for the first time.

Bet: Cross Talk to win

Tim Clark (pictured) continues his association with Cross Talk on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 6

Journalism resumes as a gelding and is nice and forward for this. He has won first-up in the past off two trials and he’s drawn barrier four under Tommy Berry. There’s not much to dislike against his own age group. Rhone bolted in on debut. It was only at Taree but she couldn’t have done anymore. She drew the inside that day and now has the outside. Oryx was gritty first-up at Hawkesbury and gets a dream run behind the leaders before having the last crack at them. Jayanthi brings strong Victorian form here and is rock-hard fit.

Bet: Oryx to win

RACE 7

Yggdrasil ran into an in-form horse here last start but was doing her best work late over this trip and fitness isn’t an issue on the testing track. Zounique only brings country form to this midweek race but still looks well placed against this field which isn’t the strongest. Pentacost is ready for 1900m now after running in behind the winners over 1600m last time from the back of the field. He is bred to handle the wet ground, is a horse on the way up and William Pike stays on.

Bet: Pentacost each way

Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury